January Dinner Calendar!

Hello and welcome to 2020! I have been saying that the year 2020 is going to be my year of clarity! (Get it? 20/20 vision. Clarity…)
Any way…
I was quiet in November and silent in December – so happy holidays, even if I am late! I do have a lot to say in January so expect to see several articles about my ideas, meals and tips. I am excited for the new year!

I know it is a touch late – but here is my January Dinner Calendar. Remember, meal calendars take me over an hour to construct. Let me show you the first step I take in attempting to have dinner under control throughout the month:

(I am using my zoo calendar for my meal calendar this year, hence the pictures of the people on the page).
My family’s schedule is in transition. I still have my two part-time jobs. We are still entertaining/inviting people over for dinners. My husband is also taking a couple of classes at one of our local tech colleges. And my daughter is in tumbling and swimming for a little while – hopefully dance soon! Plus I have my Coast Guard Auxiliary duties and my husband and I are a part of the Friends of the Library board/we attend the meetings. I know most of you guys out there can relate! If it is not swimming it is basketball. If it is not tech classes, it is extra duties at work. And surprise meetings and deadlines galore! That is why I write it down on my food calendar. This way I can plan healthy meals that I know I will have time and energy to prepare.

Step 2, write in the givens:

I highlighted the givens, those same meals that I cook, prep or procure every month.
Taco Tuesdays
Thursday Rotating Veggie Day
Sushi Friday = Last Friday of the month
*New one* 1st and 3rd Friday – Fajita Friday!
Sunday = Leftovers. Cleans out the fridge for the coming new week!

I check to make sure that my givens are still going to work. My work might make prepping some of these meals less than ideal, but it will be fine. The only issue that I can maybe see is Thursday, 1/16. I will be making curry for dinner but I will also be hosting our first Crafting Night. Friends and family will come over with the craft they are working on and we will all craft together. If no craft at hand, they can come learn something new. So curry might not be to everyone’s taste, but I make a mild curry, since that is what my husband prefers. It might be out of my guests’ normal range, but everyone should be okay. I may have to move the rotating veggies to Wednesday instead of Thursday in the future.

Next I add in my individual meals:

Yes. Salads have been listed a lot in the beginning. That’s because I got them on sale at Aldi! I bought out the stock – all 23 that were left. I could not pass these amazing salad kits for $1 a piece! These are a treat for me, so we are eating them!

The first days I filled in were the days that I work late. I do my best to plan a healthy, filling meal for my family, even if I am not there to serve it. I usually rely heavily on my slow cooker for these meals. I can get them started and tell my husband when the meal should be done. My daughter and husband can eat a hot meal, even while I am at work. The overflow of salads in the house make my working late days a little different than the norm, as 1/4 and 1/6 I work late and do not have a slow cooker meal, but that is only due to the deal I found. 1/11’s Egg Sandwiches are because my husband can make that quickly for himself and my daughter while I am at work. I already am making two days of slow cooker dinners that week – I did not want to add a third. (Trying to keep a budget).

1/20 and 1/27 are Family Dinner nights. I try to make a larger, satisfying, but still healthy, meal for the family. I think it is important they feel the love that goes in to the cooking.

1/22 Bento Box. I will most likely have fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, meats and cheeses, all arranged to be visually appealing and transportable – kind of like a Bento Box – so that my husband can take a meal with him on his long day of classes.
1/29’s Grade School Lunch is similar. But most likely, PB&J, fruit cup, apple, yogurt, carrots and celery, crackers – that sort of thing. Not the most healthy, but I will make it work.

1/25 is a soup day. I do not have to work that day and as of right now I do not have anything on the schedule, so I will be making 3 different kinds of soups:
-Golden Squash Soup (husband and daughter love it).
-Cheesy Broccoli Soup (both love this just as much!)
-Sauerkraut Soup (Husband and daughter HATE IT. But I like it and it is cheap and calorically inexpensive as well).

I think that is about it for January’s dinners. While at a New Year’s get together, my husband’s uncle was telling me about some recipes he thinks I would like. I think I am going to ask him to tell me the soup and the Alfredo recipe again, and I will get them on my February calendar.

Do you have any questions about the dinners on the calendar? Leave a message and I will answer them!
What is one of your goals/resolutions for 2020? One of my goals is to lose “another 5 pounds” to take me down to 146. Then, my target weight would be between 146-151, which would always keep me below half my starting body weight. I am looking forward to working hard on my goal in these first couple of months this year!

Have a great one. And make 2020 an excellent year!